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Original Message
"am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by cqvenus on 04-14-06 at 08:40 PM

hey, help me out here. am i paranoid, or do i actually -need- this much crap for the baby? i know you guys will tell the truth.
we (alex and i; DH has to work) are leaving sunday (easter) and returning thursday. we are visiting my mom and dad and sisters (alex's grandparents, and aunts).
in a previous life, i've travelled for myself with a friggin toothbrush. maybe some extra underwear. possibly PJs. clothes is pushing it, but even that has been known to happen.
now? this is what we are travelling with:
for alex:
- clothes bag
- diaper bag
- wipes
- stroller
- swing
- pack n play
- milk/bottles
- bottle rack
- CDs
- play gym
- monitor
- battery for monitor
- sounds maker
- flash cards
- rollover thing
- baby blankets
and this, mind you, does not even reveal the copious contents of the clothes and diaper bags. omfg.
additionally, this is not even everything (not even close) that we use on a daily basis.
your job, lovely, honest people of the OT...
answer the following two questions:
a) am i the only one who packs this much crap for a baby? this is utterly ridiculous. we can't possibly need all of these things. i should go back, reread my list, and make sure we are travelling only with the essentials. am i a crazy, paranoid mom?
b) and, probably more importantly, did i forget anything?
~ cqc
overpacking, crazy new mom

Table of contents

RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,dragonflies, 08:43 PM, 04-14-06
- RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,PepeLePew13, 07:35 AM, 04-15-06
RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,Puffy, 08:44 PM, 04-14-06
RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,J Slice, 08:45 PM, 04-14-06
- RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,dragonflies, 08:47 PM, 04-14-06
- RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,KeithFan, 09:08 PM, 04-14-06
  - RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,J Slice, 09:16 PM, 04-14-06
    - RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,KeithFan, 09:21 PM, 04-14-06
      - RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,J Slice, 09:36 PM, 04-14-06
RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,zombiebaby, 08:47 PM, 04-14-06
- RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,cqvenus, 08:55 PM, 04-14-06
  - RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,zombiebaby, 09:43 PM, 04-14-06
  - RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,mysticwolf, 10:04 PM, 04-14-06
    - RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,cqvenus, 00:21 AM, 04-15-06
    - RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,sharnina, 11:15 AM, 04-15-06
      - RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,Cygnus X1, 11:20 AM, 04-15-06
RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,sharnina, 08:54 PM, 04-14-06
- RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,cqvenus, 09:00 PM, 04-14-06
  - RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,sharnina, 09:17 PM, 04-14-06
RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,StarryLuna, 09:16 PM, 04-14-06
RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,dabo, 10:15 PM, 04-14-06
RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,PhoenixMons, 11:11 PM, 04-14-06
- RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,mysticwolf, 11:38 PM, 04-14-06
  - RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,Ante Bellum, 11:42 PM, 04-14-06
RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,Prof_ Wagstaff, 11:32 PM, 04-14-06
RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,Ante Bellum, 11:40 PM, 04-14-06
- RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,Estee, 08:50 AM, 04-17-06
RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,Penelope Le Pew, 04:44 AM, 04-15-06
RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,Snidget, 08:45 AM, 04-15-06
RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,Sunny_Bunny, 09:30 AM, 04-15-06
- RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,maroonclowns mom, 10:58 AM, 04-15-06
  - RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,Sunny_Bunny, 06:17 PM, 04-15-06
RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,adricharlie, 11:13 AM, 04-15-06
RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,Bobdechemist, 11:24 AM, 04-15-06
- RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,zombiebaby, 02:26 PM, 04-15-06
Yes.,Coconut, 12:35 PM, 04-15-06
RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,cahaya, 01:36 PM, 04-15-06
RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,ginger, 03:28 PM, 04-15-06
RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,cqvenus, 03:36 PM, 04-15-06
- RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,Penelope Le Pew, 06:03 PM, 04-15-06
- RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,qwertypie, 06:58 PM, 04-15-06
- RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?,Estee, 08:07 AM, 04-17-06

Messages in this discussion

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by dragonflies on 04-14-06 at 08:43 PM

Sounds about right. I would skip the swing, but my kids never really loved the swing anyway. What do you do with flash cards? Multiplication tables already? Instead of the play gym, what about a few small toys to keep aby occupied.
You think this is bad, try multiple kids.

Sigs by Cyg
Have a fun safe trip!

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by PepeLePew13 on 04-15-06 at 07:35 AM

Heh, I'm there at that point right now -- multiple kids. Pene and I have been known to pack the exersaucer and swing and a tote box full of toys to keep both Pippy and Poppy entertained while we go visit grandma for an overnight. Fortunately, my mom has a crib so we don't have to worry about taking the playpen along.
cq? Remember that old travel rule? Set out everything you plan to pack and take with you. Then take out half and then double the money you plan to spend. You'll find that you won't need/use half of the things on your list.

A Tribe siggie
"Tsk, tsk. Pepe's messing with the newbies again." Spidey, 3/30/05

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by Puffy on 04-14-06 at 08:44 PM

Perfectly normal. Babies require lots of "stuff." Don't scrimp. Better to have it than to wish you had packed it. I don't know what you're missing, but you're probably missing something.

ŠSyren Creations, 2005
How about supplies in case the baby gets sick?

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by J Slice on 04-14-06 at 08:45 PM

Dr. Julia sez:
Leave toys at home. Purchase box of tampons. Hand to Alex.
Instant entertainment! It'll keep her busy for hours.

Let's go Mets!

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by dragonflies on 04-14-06 at 08:47 PM

DS once spent 45 minutes taking a small tube of toothpaste out of the box and putting it back in. We were fascinated watching him.

Sigs by Cyg
Are you going to a place with no stores? If you need it you could buy it there.

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by KeithFan on 04-14-06 at 09:08 PM

Heh, yeah. Some of us never grow out of it either.

If you build it...

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by J Slice on 04-14-06 at 09:16 PM

Hon, they're not THAT exciting.
Unless you've got those fun pitchers of blue liquid like in the commercials...

Let's go Mets!

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by KeithFan on 04-14-06 at 09:21 PM

Sorry bout that. Just RL spilling over into OT. Today at work we were discussing how to recycle Nuvarings.

If you build it...

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by J Slice on 04-14-06 at 09:36 PM

Recycling Nuvarings.
...

...

I'm sorry, that's just awful.

Let's go Mets!

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by zombiebaby on 04-14-06 at 08:47 PM

Well lets see!
You defintely need...
-clothes bag
- diaper bag
- wipes- no diapers?
- stroller
- swing- if you have room then great but you may not need this.
- pack n play- to sleep in right? This is definately necessary.
- milk/bottles
- bottle rack- I don't think you need this. Don't you use the dishwasher?
- CDs
- play gym
- monitorIs this necessary? Will the baby's room be far from where you will be spending the most time? If it is for naps you probably will hear her, won't she be sleeping in the same room as you on this trip?
- battery for monitor
- sounds maker
- flash cards
- rollover thingDoes this work? My kids did not roll over so it was a moot point. If they can roll over then they should be fine. But this could be something you like to have so up to you
- baby blankets
I remember my first stroll with my first born a couple of blocks. I packed a diaper and all this crap. I don't know what I was thinking. If she pooped I was not going to take her out of the car seat and change her on the street. Home was only 5 minutes away!
Babies are why we need a minivan. Just too much crap. However later on I was just leaving with 2 diapers for each kid in my pocketbook and some wipes. I learned to streamline.
You are doing a great job cq!

Siggy conceived by Arkie, gestating done by Zombs

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by cqvenus on 04-14-06 at 08:55 PM

diapers are in the diaper bag. it is exploding at the seams. i'm pretty sure i stuffed a package of diapers in there (that's 56 diapers). the wipes, then, didn't fit.
the bottle rack is the cage you throw the stuff into in the dishwasher. i do need it cuz the small parts of the breast pump will get lost or stuck in the bottom if i don't use it.
monitor i need for naps b/c we are outside in the yard w/ bbq or campfire, and the baby is inside in the house.
also, at night, i will be upstairs and baby will be in the (finished) basement. so i don't think i would hear her... (see... i *am* paranoid!)
she doesn't rollover but she scoots around the crib without it, and ends up in the creases or the corners. then she screams.
~ cq

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by zombiebaby on 04-14-06 at 09:43 PM

So the you are set!
Maybe don't bring enough clothes and toys for her and get grandma to buy some extra

Siggy conceived by Arkie, gestating done by Zombs

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by mysticwolf on 04-14-06 at 10:04 PM

I'm no expert, but, unless you are camping or waaayyyyy out in the boonies, may I suggest taking enough diapers to make the trip + one day (I'm pretty sure that's fewer than 56). Where there are stores, there are diapers. If nothing else it would give you more room to pack stuff in the diaper bag.

An Arkie curious cub

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by cqvenus on 04-15-06 at 00:21 AM

lol... i wish 56 were an overestimate.
she uses 10 - 12 diapers a day.
times four days...
well, you see.
~ cq

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by sharnina on 04-15-06 at 11:15 AM

WHAT!! The diapers I bought were designed to hold 8-13 lbs. And it was really cool that the older they got the more they were designed to hold. I only had to change my kids once or twice a day. You're buying the wrong kind of diapers, my friend.
What??

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by Cygnus X1 on 04-15-06 at 11:20 AM

The diapers I bought were designed to hold 8-13 lbs.
(note to self: don't arrive at Sharnina's before her babies get changed)

8-13 pounds is a LOT of poop.
(shamelessly swiped from Jeff Foxworthy)

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by sharnina on 04-14-06 at 08:54 PM

How old is the baby and are you nursing or bottle feeding - I know you have bottles on the list but we used them when I was nursing. Also, is your baby used to the pack-n-play? If not you might want to put him/her in it a few times before you go. I guess that would be today and tomorrow, huh.
- clothes bag
- diaper bag - diapers - only take what you would normally use, you can alway buy more.
- wipes
- stroller
- swing - skip it
- pack n play
- milk/bottles-- Only enough bottles for one day (you can wash them)
- bottle rack ---??? I would say skip it
- CDs- skip it- maybe just one or two.
- play gym - skip it - baby will probably be very entertained by adults
- monitor - skip it - you will probably have baby with you most of the time
- battery for monitor - see above
- sounds maker - unless baby is attached to this skip it.
- flash cards - skip it
- rollover thing - ??? I don't know what this is.
- baby blankets
Sounds like you have it covered. Good luck and Happy Easter!

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by cqvenus on 04-14-06 at 09:00 PM

nursing... i just take bottles with me in case i have to leave her with my mom.
the rest you're prolly right about...
stupid play gym. that reminds me... boppy pillow...
my mom specifically requested the play gym and boppy b/c she "wants to see her playing with them."
this is the woman who sent us home from palm sunday with no fewer than 30 new outfits.

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by sharnina on 04-14-06 at 09:17 PM

The reason I suggest the thing with the pak-n-play is because we took a trip with our daughter when she was about 7 months old and for whatever reason she had never been in the playpen. We took it with us and she would not sleep in it. She literally did not sleep except for little 20-30 minute naps for 2 whole days. The last day we were there she fell asleep on the floor. We left her there for a while and then woke her up for lunch. About 10 minutes into the meal she was face down in her high chair. We all got a good laugh and she got some good sleep.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by StarryLuna on 04-14-06 at 09:16 PM

Will the grandparents and aunts be buying more ~~crap~~ toys for Alex? If so, you may want to leave some of her current toys at home, as it will only add to the things you'll need to drag back with you. Otherwise, it sounds about right. Obviously, I don't have kids, but my best friend has a daughter about to turn 2 and I've done my fair share of travelling with a baby/toddler in the last couple of years.

Luna's Eclipses

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by dabo on 04-14-06 at 10:15 PM

b) and, probably more importantly, did i forget anything?
The camera and extra rolls of film.
SMILES ARE FREE

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by PhoenixMons on 04-14-06 at 11:11 PM

I assume you are driving (otherwise there's no way you'd be able to take that much big stuff ). IMHO, you don't need half the stuff on the list, but that's just me (we didn't HAVE half the stuff on your list, so that might be why we didn't need it ).
Pretend you're flying. People fly with babies all the time and can't take all of that stuff.
But if you think you will really use all of the stuff on your list, then take what you think you'll need.
If you're going to start crossing things off though, I'd say leave the swing at home if nothing else. I'm sure everyone will be wanting to hold Alex constantly anyway, so there won't be time for the swing.
Next, I'd take out most of the diapers. As someone else said, you can get diapers anywhere. Take enough for your travels plus one day.
Then I'd take out half of the clothes you've packed. Whatever you've packed, you won't use half of it (I know, I've BTDT).
As for watching Alex playing with the play gym...that's what video cameras are for. Seriously, it's one less thing you have to worry about if you ask me.
Sounds maker...if you've got CDs, do you need a sounds maker (wtf is a sounds maker anyway)?

Bottle rack? If you nurse most of the time, couldn't you just wash individual bottles as needed? I really don't know because Kaia never used a bottle...I'm just assuming here.
Pack-n-play could go either way. Kaia slept with us until she was 6 months old, but slept with us all the time whenever we were away from home. The little girl I took care of in Belgium kept a pack-n-play at our house and slept in it from the time she was 6 or 7 months old (when I started watching her) until she was almost two. She'd been sleeping in it during the day regularly since she was old enough to sleep in it (whatever age that is, I don't know). I just wouldn't want you to go through the hassle of taking it only to have it sit in the car/carrying case for the whole trip. I tend to be a minimalist with everything but clothes and movies (I always take an assortment of movies with me when I travel).
Have fun on your trip!!!!!

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by mysticwolf on 04-14-06 at 11:38 PM

I get why everyone suggests dropping the swing, but I'm a bit biased for taking it because, assuming it's one of those wind-up swing things, that's the one item that saved my nephew's young life. (He now has 3 degrees, B.A. - Astrophysics, M.A. - Anthropology, and J.D. - Law. Not so young anymore.)
The swing was set up next to the TV, so they could see both. My BIL noticed that he'd stopped breathing and resuscitated him. He had open-heart surgery to correct a valve problem when he was 6-mos. old. Needless to say, every child in the family gets a swing as one of their first presents.
They're not that expensive. If you'll be visiting at all often, maybe Grandma & Grandpa can get one to keep at their house so you don't have to transport it back and forth.

An Arkie curious cub

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by Ante Bellum on 04-14-06 at 11:42 PM

Wouldn't it be more efficient in the long run to simply remove the TV from the house? Frees up all kinds of time, too.

Handcrafted by RollDdice

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by Prof_ Wagstaff on 04-14-06 at 11:32 PM

ROTFLMAO!
In March of 1995 my wife and I took a 3&1/2 week road trip from Minneapolis to the Southwest. We were going to hit as many National Parks as possible. Camping all the way. Bandelier, The Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches National Monument. (Ok maybe we stayed in a couple of motels.)We were driving a 6yr old Izuzu Trooper and with the back seat folded up we had that Trooper pretty well packed.
In November or 1995 our 1st daughter was born.
In July of 1996 we took a 4 day trip to our friends cabin with our beautiful new, darling daughter. To my surprise somebody had shrunk my damn truck! I could barely get what we needed for 4 days into the back of that same Trooper!
So to answer your questions:
a) Nope!
b)Probably! You won't know til you get there. At that point it will be too late and you'll work it out.

Damn, parenthood is great!

Sig by Cygnus
"Well, art is art, isn't it? Still, on the other hand, water is water! And east is east and west is west and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does. Now, uh...Now tell me what you know."

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by Ante Bellum on 04-14-06 at 11:40 PM

Leave behind:
most of the diapers. buy them on location.
based on your other comments leave most of the clothes, too.
swing. (too big, too useless with relatives around)
all but 2 bottles and 3 nipples. rack? no.
play gym? see swing.
batteries should be provided by relatives or purchased on location.
sounds maker/flash cards. there will be plenty to stimulate the baby.
I have no idea what a rollover thing is. if it's big and you don't absolutely *need* it, dump it.
You forgot: camera, car seat.

Handcrafted by RollDdice
Anything else you forgot (or decide you should have left on the list), you can buy there and return to the store on the way out of town. When did you forget to think like a broke (grad) student? ;)

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by Estee on 04-17-06 at 08:50 AM

3 nipples. rack? no.
*steps away from the thread*

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by Penelope Le Pew on 04-15-06 at 04:44 AM

Yup, you are *crazy, paranoid* mom! I am like that too! It is normal.
Tylenol, Advil or Tempra.. just in case. You could always buy it when needed. I always leave it in the diaper bag.
We flied over to Halifax during the Christmas holidays with Poppy, grandparents offered to buy diapers and wipes. Skip swing. We brought the carseat carrier and we used it as a nap. They borrowed the playpen from their friend which was good.
One other night, we forget to bring the baby monitor light device to wake me up when baby cries. Oops.
Receiving blankets - we need them for Poppy's barf. One day, I forget and no blanket to clean up... Eeew.. messy..

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by Snidget on 04-15-06 at 08:45 AM

Sounds about right.
Most of the peeps I know with kids for the first time always are astounded at how much stuff they have to haul around everytime they go anywhere.
Only advice is bring less of things you can easily restock along the way, on the other hand anything that seems to comfort the child or that they are attached to you might want to bring along even if it seems to be something you can get along without. Cranky kid missing favorite toy/blankie/etc. is no fun.
I agree with bringing the camera/video, etc.

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by Sunny_Bunny on 04-15-06 at 09:30 AM

Hi Luv-
I'm a bit late to this party, and our boys are all way beyond the baby stage, but here goes...
- clothes bag
- diaper bag
- wipes
- stroller
Keep these, they are essentials.

- swing
- pack n play
Dump these, let the relatives become both. lol
- milk/bottles Take the bottles, with enough cans of milk for the drive, buy milk for the actual stay when you get there.
- bottle rack- dump it, wash the nipples and rings by hand, use the diswasher for the bottles themselves.
- CDs- keep, make sure you have music YOU like for the drive, especially if it is a long one.
- play gym - again, if this is a big thing, leave it, let the relatives be the "gym" lol
- monitor
- battery for monitor
Dump these, unless said relitives house is a palatial estate, wherin said baby's room is it's own wing on the other side of the mansion. (hey, a bunny can dream, right? lol)
- sounds maker - dump it, have family make wooshing sounds if they have too
- flash cards - dump them
- rollover thing - if the screaming/scrunching is truly an issue, take it, if it doesnt really happen all that often, leave it at home.
- baby blankets - take a FEW.
IMHO, you mother remembers that babies make a lot of laundry, and will not be shocked if you do a few loads while you are there. That being the case, you can cut things that need to be laundered by HALF, (such as clothes and blankies) and just toss in a load every morning.
Diapers, wipes, milk, etc: buy when you get there. As we have all discussed here, Walmarts are more prolific than rabbits. lol

Dont forget the camera... but a suggestion: take a digital camera with a memory card, because you can simply take the card with you to walmart (when you buy diapers etc) and have prints made up of the pitctures while you shop.
Have fun! Cant wait to hear how it went.

and no, you are not paranoid. Streamlining is an artform that takes time lol

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by maroonclowns mom on 04-15-06 at 10:58 AM

This thread was fun for me to read. I remember CLOTH diapers.

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by Sunny_Bunny on 04-15-06 at 06:17 PM

Actually, I used cloth when I was at home, Huggies when we went anywhere. Cloth nappies make great dustrags after they are potty trained. lol

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by adricharlie on 04-15-06 at 11:13 AM

I think everybody packs a ton of stuff for the baby. If you have the room than go ahead and pack and make life easier for you while on vacation. I personally would rather pack it and take it with me rather than having to go to the store while I'm visiting family. That's just me though since shopping is not one of my favorite things. I still pack at least one extra set of clothes for my kids but when they were babies I usually packed 2 or 3 extra each. The only thing I noticed that you forgot was the tylenol/motrin/advil. Even if there is a store it is just nice to have that with you if the baby needs it. Have fun and enjoy your trip!!!!

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by Bobdechemist on 04-15-06 at 11:24 AM

Baby thermometer, so when baby gets sick, you have a number to actually fret over. Or you can go with the 11:00 pm run to the 24 hour drug store.
I am astounded by how much space a baby takes up. They are so small.
And then you wonder how those nomadic women do it with a sling and some moss.

Super exciting moss

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by zombiebaby on 04-15-06 at 02:26 PM

Super exciting moss
That reminds me recipes are due soon.

"Yes."
Posted by Coconut on 04-15-06 at 12:35 PM

but it is completely normal when you take a trip for the first time. You have to overpack the first time to know what you need the second time. I can now pack for two kids in the suitcase I used for one.
Anyway, I say jettison the flash cards (flash cards?), soundsmaker, rollover thingy (Beeloop doesn't roll over yet, and he's a month older than she is). I would say the play gym, too, but I understand your mom's point of view. Babies can get really overstimulated in new places even if they're young -Beeloop had a screaming fit last night and the night before just because there was so much stuff going on - and I think toys are not going to be necessary.
What I brought (just for Beeloop)for five days, including the contents of diaper bag:
Pack n Play
Stroller
Seven sleepers
Four 'real' outfits
Four pairs of socks
One pair of monkey slippers
Two flannel blankies
One heavy blanket
Three burp cloths
35 diapers (but he is a twice-a-day pooper, so I get your diaper paranoia)
Wipes
Two toys (a stuffed Tiny Love octopus and a set of those plastic keys)
Various health stuff: q-tips, eye ointment, tempra, thermometer, zinc ointment
Snugli (and I won't bring it again; the sling is better)
Sling

I deliberately did not bring my pump or bottles because I don't want to have to explain why I am not leaving him with my nieces or sister-in-law.
Take care and I hope everything goes well.

Coconut: Taking the grammer police to a whole new level.

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by cahaya on 04-15-06 at 01:36 PM

That list looks very familiar, as we often traveled to in-laws houses in Malaysia for holidays.
Over time, we reduced the toy list (there were kids with toys at the houses we went to).
In addition to what you and others listed here, I also include:
* Fold-up travel baby crib (which we use for everyday/night use, as well). DD is less than 2 years old and does best in her usual crib. DW and I sleep a lot better without DD in the bed with us, too.
* Meds, if any.

An Arkie Asian creation, with Foo dog images by Bob.

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by ginger on 04-15-06 at 03:28 PM

As my boss' wife once remarked, once you have a baby it takes four hours to anything spontaneously. You are totally normal.

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by cqvenus on 04-15-06 at 03:36 PM

okay... here's my finalized list... and i've expanded on the contents of the diaper / clothes bags in case you guys are interested. lol...
- diaper bag: 56 diapers (baby poos 6 times a day so i won't compromise on the diapers); wipes; med kit (contains snot sucker, med dropper, tylenol, gas drops, thermometer, nail clipper and hair brush); 1 toy (rattley thing w/ mirror); butt cream; 1 pacifier (she has yet to use this, in fact it always just makes her gag and she spits it out. so i figure with my luck, the first time i'll need it i won't have it); 3 receiving blankets; CD case (travel one, holds 6, they're all hers, mine are already in the car); baby shampoo/wash
- stroller (lives in my trunk, anyway, and her carseat pops right into it)
- clothes bag (6 onesies, 3 PJs, 3 real outfits, 1 sleep sack, 3 pairs of socks, 2 baby blankets, 1 towel, 3 washcloths, 3 waterproof pads); baby monitor w/ battery already in it
- breast pump (this bag has 2 bottles in it and a million of those ziplock bags, and i don't plan to need this thing, anyway... haven't had to pump for quite a while now, but it happens i'll probably die without it)
so i axed the swing... my mom said she has one in her attic and i'll just go up and get it. she also has a pack n play.
forget the toys, cards, gym, sounds thing, and even the rollover thing.
i figure she probably won't sleep in the friggin pack n play and will be in bed with me, anyway. so why bother bringing all the crap that is in her crib when she's going to ignore it.
so that's what i've condensed down to.
and pene i've been meaning to ask you for the longest time how you guys get up when the baby cries... please explain this light thing to me.
~ cq

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by Penelope Le Pew on 04-15-06 at 06:03 PM

Hi Cq..
I have provided the website to show you what the sound alert system is like. I have this device to plug the lamp together. When my baby cries, the lamp just flashes just like the same sounds you hear waa waa waa waa, light, light, light, light. There is a vibrator available but we did not bother to buy it. I sleep lightly so I come to him every time he cries without any problem.
http://chs.ca/chsshop/shopexd.asp?id=85

Pepe probably would explain this better.

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by qwertypie on 04-15-06 at 06:58 PM

contains snot sucker
That is what I was going to suggest. It has saved our nights many a time when we were travelling

Yes It's Vintage Tribephyl!

"RE: am i a crazy, paranoid mom?"
Posted by Estee on 04-17-06 at 08:07 AM

I'm way too late to this moving party -- but for next time, the one thing you could probably add are burp pads. It's that or the ever-fascinating back-and-shoulder stain.